The best civilian analysis can be found at The Long War.
Most of our bases get hit with rockets weekly, some more so. Our bases are the equivalent of castles. The Taliban target civil authorities much more since they don't want us to re-engage.
The Afghans are supposed to be taking care of their own provincial rule. In practice, this means the Taliban have free reign over the majority of the country, and can pick off areas at will. The objective is to terrorize the locals from participating in any significant national government. The reality is that Afghanistan has not ever been, nor will ever be, a country. It is a collection of warring tribes that ally with whomever offers the most immediate benefit to the local chieftans. (
After billions of dollars and thousands of lives, the average Afghan sees no difference and our presence has changed from liberator to occupier. While tactics and technology have advanced to limit casualties, the situation on the ground is very familiar to any student of history.
Though the term "Afghanization" doesn't seem to have caught on, it is entirely appropriate. (See Vietnamization 1969-1972)